2-Phenylthiophene Derivative

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a 2-phenylthiophene derivative or a salt thereof, wherein the thiophene ring is substituted with a carboxyl group or the like and the benzene ring has an electron-withdrawing group such as a cyano group and an electron-donating group such as a substituted alkoxy group at the same time. Since the compound of the invention has good xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action and uric acid-lowering action and does not have a structure derived from nucleic acid, the compound has advantages of high safety and excellent effects as compared with conventional compounds and is useful as a therapeutic or preventive agent for hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, diabetic retinopathy, or the like.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a 2-phenylthiophene derivative useful as a medicament, particularly a therapeutic or preventive agent for diseases in which xantine oxidase participates, such as hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, and diabetic retinopathy.

BACKGROUND ART

Abnormal increase in blood uric acid level, i.e., hyperuricemia is a disease which closely relates to gout, renal dysfunction, urolithiasis, and the like (Shindan to Chiryo, 2002, 90(2), 244-248 and Shindan to Chiryo, 2002, 90(2), 220-224). Also, in organ transplantation (Ren. Fail. 2002 May; 24(3): 361-7) and chemotherapy of cancers (Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm. 2003 Nov 1; 60(21): 2213-22), it is known that serum uric acid level is remarkably increased and renal dysfunction is induced (tumor lysis syndrome and the like). The therapeutic drugs for hyperuricemia are roughly divided into uric acid-excretion accelerators and uric acid-synthesis inhibitors. However, since the action is reduced in the uric acid-excretion accelerators when renal function decreases, allopurinol (Nippon Rinsho, 1996 Dec; 54(12): 3364-8 and Nippon Rinsho, 2003; 61, Suppl. 1: 197-20) which is a uric acid-synthesis inhibitor is suitably used for patients having decreased renal function (Guideline for therapy of hyperuricemia/gout, Japanese Society of Gout and Nucleic Acid Metabolism, Therapeutic Guideline 2002). Xanthine oxidase is an enzyme directing biosynthesis of uric acid, and xanthine oxidase inhibitors which inhibit the enzyme is effective, as uric acid-synthesis inhibitors, for therapy of hyperuricemia and various diseases attributable thereto. Allopurinol employed in clinical use is only one xanthine oxidase inhibitor which is in practical use, at present.

On the other hand, xanthine oxidase is known to have a role as an active oxygen-producing enzyme (Drug Metab. Rev. 2004 May; 36(2): 363-75). Active oxygen is a exacerbation factor of morbid conditions, which causes DNA and cell damage and also induces inflammatory cytokine production (Free Radic. Biol. Med. 2001 May 15; 30(10): 1055-66). For example, it is known that active oxygen deeply participates in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 2001 Dec; 36(12): 1289-94) and ischemic reperfusion disorder (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2004 Mar 5; 315(2): 455-62). Furthermore, recently, in diabetic kidney diseases (Curr. Med. Res. Opin. 2004 Mar; 20(3): 369-79), heart failure (J. Physiol. 2004 Mar 16; 555(Pt 3): 589-606, Epub 2003 Dex 23), cerebrovascular disorder (Stroke, 1989 Apr; 20(4): 488-94), and the like, it is suggested that active oxygen participates in as one of exacerbation factors. Moreover, in diabetic retinopathy, it is known that an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the vitreous body deeply participates in morbid condition and an increase in expression of VEGF through oxidation stress occurs under morbid conditions (Curr Drug Targets. 2005 Jun; 6(4): 511-24). Since a xanthine oxidase inhibitor inhibits production of active oxygen, it is effective in treatment of these diseases. Actually, it has been reported that allopurinol is effective in ulcerative colitis (Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2000 Sep; 14(9): 1159-62), angiopathy involved in diabetes (Hypertension, 2000 Mar; 35(3): 746-51), and chronic heart failure (Circulation, 2002 Jul 9; 106(2): 221-6) in human.

As above, although allopurinol which is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor is reported to have effectiveness for various diseases, severe adverse effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, hepatopathy, and renal dysfunction have been reported (Nippon Rinsho, 2003; 61, Suppl. 1: 197-201). As one cause thereof, it is pointed out that allopurinol has a nucleic acid-like structure and inhibits pyrimidine.metabolic pathway (Life Sci. 2000 Apr 14; 66(21): 2051-70). Accordingly, it is highly desired to develop a highly safe and highly effective xanthine oxidase inhibitor having a non-nucleic acid structure.

Hitherto, compounds having xanthine oxidase- inhibitory activity have been reported. For example, as xanthine oxidase inhibitors, there have been reported phenyl-substituted azole compounds such as 2-phenylthiazole derivatives (Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3), 3-phenylisothiazole derivatives (Patent Documents 4 and 5), 3-phenylpyrazole derivatives (Patent Documents 6, 7, and 8), 2-phenyloxazole derivatives (Patent Document 9), and 2-phenylimidazole derivatives (Patent Document 9).

On the other hand, it is described that a compound represented by the following formula (II) has a uric acid- excreting action and is useful for therapy of hyperuricemia (Patent Document 10):

wherein A represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a vinylene group, B represents an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, —(CH₂)_(n) — (where n is 0 or 1), or a carbonyl group, R₁ represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or the like, R₂ represents a lower alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, a cyano group, a tetrazole group, or the like, R₃ represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkoxy group, or a lower aminoalkoxy group, R₄ represents a nitro group, a cyano group, a halogen atom, a trifluoromethyl group, or the like; see the publication for further information.

In the publication, 2-phenylthiophene derivatives having a carboxyl group or a tetrazole group in the thiophene ring are disclosed (Compound Nos. 75 and 77). These compounds have only a cyano group as a substituent on the phenyl group. Moreover, there are neither disclosure nor suggestion of the xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action and uric acid-synthesis inhibitory action in the publication.

Moreover, it is suggested that a compound represented by the following general formula (III) has an adjuvant arthritis-inhibitory action and is effective for rheumatoid arthritis (Patent Document 11):

wherein X represents a halogen atom, lower alkoxy, or the like, Y represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, R represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, and a dotted line means that the bond in the position may be a double bond; see the publication for further information.

In addition, it is suggested that a compound represented by the following formula (IV) has an antirheumatic action based on cytokine production inhibition and is effective for treatment of diseases based on immunodeficiency (Non-Patent Document 1):

(there is disclosed eight compounds wherein X is a hydrogen atom, Cl, or Br and R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group).

However, in any of Patent Document 11 and Non-Patent Document 1, there are neither disclosure nor suggestion of the xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action and uric acid- synthesis inhibitory action.

Patent Document 1: WO92/09279

Patent Document 2: JP-A-2002-105067

Patent Document 3: WO96/31211

Patent Document 4: JP-A-57-85379

Patent Document 5: JP-A-6-211815

Patent Document 6: JP-A-59-95272

Patent Document 7: WO98/18765

Patent Document 8: JP-A-10-310578

Patent Document 9: JP-A-6-65210

Patent Document 10: JP-A-2000-1431

Patent Document 11: JP-A-2-193990

Non-Patent Document 1: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, Britain, 2003, Vol. 11, p.4729-4742

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems that the Invention is to Solve

An object of the invention is to provide a highly safe and novel therapeutic or preventive agent for hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, or diabetic retinopathy based on an excellent xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action.

Means for Solving the Problems

As a result of extensive studies on compounds having a xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action, although a xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action has been hitherto not known on 2-phenylthiophenecarboxylic acid derivatives, the present inventors have confirmed that a 2-phenylthiophene derivative represented by the following general formula wherein the thiophene ring is substituted with a carboxyl group or the like and the benzene ring has an electron-withdrawing group such as a cyano group and an electron-donating group such as a substituted alkoxy group at the same time has a potent xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action and a uric acid-lowering action based thereon, and an antiinflammatory action and the like. Also, they have found that the derivative may be a good therapeutic or preventive agent for hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, diabetic retinopathy, and the like. Thus, they have accomplished the invention. Moreover, it has been confirmed that the compound of the invention has high safety. Furthermore, it has been surprisingly revealed that the compound of the invention also has an inhibitory activity of AKRlC3, which is one of aldo-keto reductases, in addition to the xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action. Thus, it has been confirmed that the compound of the invention has also a preferable action as an antiinflammatory drug.

Namely, the invention relates to a novel 2-phenylthiophene derivative represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof:

-   wherein the symbols have the following meanings: -   R¹: —CO₂H, —CO₂-lower alkyl, or a tetrazolyl group, -   R²: H, halogen, lower alkyl, or —O-lower alkyl, -   R³: H, lower alkyl, or halogen, -   R⁴: —CN, —NO₂, —Br, halogeno-lower alkyl, or —(CO)-lower alkyl, -   R⁵: H, lower alkyl, —O-lower alkyl, halogen, —NO₂, or —CN, -   X: —O—, —N(R⁷)—, or —S—, where groups represented by R⁴ and —X—R⁶     are linked to meta- or para-position to the thienyl group, -   R⁷: H or lower alkyl -   R⁶: linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, linear or     branched alkenyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, —Y-(cycloalkyl which     may contain an oxygen atom), —Y-phenyl, or —Y-heteroaryl, -   where the linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms,     linear or branched alkenyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl     which may contain an oxygen atom, phenyl, and heteroaryl may be     substituted with a group selected from the group consisting of     hydroxy, —CN, —O-lower alkyl, —S-lower alkyl, —NR⁹(R⁹), and     —(CO)NR⁸(R⁹), -   Y: a bond, lower alkylene, or lower alkenylene, -   R⁸ and R⁹: the same or different from each other, H or lower alkyl, -   where, when X is a group represented by —N(R⁷)—, R⁷ and R⁶ may be     combined together with the adjacent nitrogen atom to form a     nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle and the     nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle may be substituted with an     lower alkyl; the same shall apply hereinafter.

Moreover, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the 2-phenylthiophene derivative represented by the above general formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Preferably, it is the above pharmaceutical composition, which is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, and it is the above pharmaceutical composition, which is a preventive or therapeutic agent for hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, or diabetic retinopathy.

Furthermore, the other embodiments are use of the 2-phenylthiophene derivative represented by the general formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the production of a preventive or therapeutic agent for hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, or diabetic retinopathy and a preventive or therapeutic method of hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, or diabetic retinopathy, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of the 2-phenylthiophene derivative represented by the general formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

Since the compound of the invention has a potent xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action, the compound is useful as a therapeutic or preventive drug for hyperuricemia, gout, uric acid urolithiasis, renal dysfunction accompanied by hyperuricemia, inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), diabetic kidney diseases, diabetic retinopathy, organ damage at organ transplantation or ischemic reperfusion, tumor lysis syndrome, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disorder, particularly hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, and diabetic retinopathy.

Namely, as mentioned below, the compound of the invention has an excellent uric acid-lowering action. The compound of the invention is also effective in patients whose renal function has decreased unlike ureic acid-excreting agents. Moreover, the compound has an excellent antiinflammatory action by suppressing formation of active oxygen produced via xanthine oxidase and by inhibiting AKR1C3. Furthermore, since the present compound can avoid adverse effects based on pyrimidine metabolic pathway inhibition, it has an excellent profile as compared with existing xanthine oxidase inhibitors such as allopurinol.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following will describe the invention in detail.

The term “lower” in the definition of the general formulae herein means a linear or branched carbon chain having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (hereinafter abbreviated as C₁-₆) unless otherwise noted. Therefore, “lower alkyl” is C₁₋₆ alkyl, preferably linear alkyl such as a methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, or n-butyl group and branched alkyl such as an isopropyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, or neopentyl group. Methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and isopropyl groups are particularly preferred. “Lower alkylene” is C₂₋₆ alkylene, preferably linear alkylene such as an ethylene, trimethylene, or tetramethylene group and branched alkylene such as a propylene, ethylethylene, 1,2-dimethylethylene, or 1,1,2,2-tetramethylethylene group.

The linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms in R⁶ is preferably an ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, isopentyl, or neopentyl group.

The “alkenyl” is a group having one or more double bonds in any position of “alkyl”, preferably C₃₋₈ alkenyl, more preferably C₃₋₈ alkenyl having three or less branches, still preferably C₃₋₆ alkenyl having one double bond.

The “lower alkenylene” is a group having one or more double bonds in any position of C₃₋₆ alkylene, preferably propenylene, butenylene, pentenylene, hexenylene, or 1,3-butadienylene, more preferably C₃₋₅ alkenylene.

The linear or branched alkenyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms in R⁶ is preferably a propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, 1,3-butadienyl, isoprenyl, or 3,3-dimethylpropen-2-yl group.

The “halogen” represents F, Cl, Br, or I. Preferably, it is F. “Halogeno-lower alkyl” means C₁₋₆ alkyl substituted with one or more halogen, preferably C₁₋₆ alkyl substituted with one or more F, more preferably a trifluoromethyl group.

The “cycloalkyl” is a C₃₋₁₀ saturated hydrocarbon ring group and may have bridge. It is preferably a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, or adamantyl group, particularly preferably a cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl group.

The cycloalkyl which may contain an oxygen atom includes a group wherein one of any carbon atoms of cycloalkyl is replaced by an oxygen atom in addition to the above cycloalkyl. The cycloalkyl which may contain an oxygen atom is preferably an oxiranyl, oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, or tetrahydropyranyl group.

The “heteroaryl” is a generic term of a monocyclic 5- to 7-membered unsaturated cyclic group (monocyclic heteroaryl) having 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from O, S, and N and a bicyclic heteroaryl wherein monocyclic heteroaryl and monocyclic heteroaryl or a benzene ring and monocyclic heteroaryl are fused. The monocyclic heteroaryl preferably includes pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, thienyl, furyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, thiadiazolyl, and oxadiazolyl groups. The bicyclic heteroaryl preferably includes indolyl, benzimidazolyl, quinazolyl, quinoxalinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, cinnolyl, and phthalazinyl groups.

The “nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle” represents 5- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic heterocycle which contains one N atom and may further contain one heteroatom comprising N, S, and O. Preferred are pyrrolidine, piperidine, piperazine, azepane, diazepane, azocane, morpholine, thiomorpholine, and tetrahydropyridine rings.

In the above “nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle”, a ring atom, S may be oxidized to form oxide or dioxide. Moreover, any carbon atom may be substituted with an oxo group.

Among the compound of the invention represented by the above general formula (I), a preferable embodiment is a compound represented by the following general formula (I^(A)) or a salt thereof:

wherein the symbols have the following meanings:

-   R¹: —CO₂H or a tetrazolyl group, -   R² and R³: the same or different from each other, H, F, or Cl, -   R⁴: —CN, —NO₂, or —(CO)-lower alkyl, -   R⁵: H or halogen, -   X: —O—, —N(R⁷)—, or —S—, -   R⁷: H or lower alkyl -   R⁶: linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, linear or     branched alkenyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, —Y-cycloalkyl,     —Y-phenyl, or —Y-monocyclic heteroaryl, where the linear or branched     alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, linear or branched alkenyl having     3 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl, phenyl, and monocyclic heteroaryl     may be substituted with —CN, -   Y: a bond, lower alkylene, or lower alkenylene, where, when X is a     group represented by —N(R⁷)—, R⁷ and R⁶ may be combined together     with the adjacent nitrogen atom to form a nitrogen-containing     saturated heterocycle and the nitrogen-containing saturated     heterocycle may be substituted with an lower alkyl.

The following show preferable embodiments of the compounds of the invention represented by the general formula (I) and (I^(A)) :

-   [1] The compound wherein R¹ is —CO₂H; -   [2] More preferably, the compound according to the above [1],     wherein R² is H or F; -   3]More preferably, the compound according to the above [2], wherein     R³ is H; -   [4] More preferably, the compound according to the above [3],     wherein R⁴ is —CN or —NO₂, further preferably —CN; -   [5] More preferably, the compound according to the above [4],     wherein R⁵ is H or halogen, further preferably H; -   [6] More preferably, the compound according to the above [5],     wherein X is —O—; -   [7] More preferably, the compound according to the above [6],     wherein R⁶ is linear or branched alkyl having 2 to 6 carbon atoms,     cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, or -lower     alkylene-(cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms); -   [8] More preferably, the compound according to the above [7],     wherein R⁶ is a group selected from the group consisting of ethyl,     n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, isopentyl, neopentyl,     cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cyclohexylmethyl;

The other preferable embodiment in the compounds represented by the general formulae (I) and (I^(A)) is the compound according to the above [5], wherein X is —N(R⁷)— and R⁷ and R⁶ are combined together with the adjacent nitrogen atom to form a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle which may be substituted with an lower alkyl. More preferably, it is the compound according to the above [5], wherein the nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle is pyrrolidine, piperidine, homopiperidine, or morpholine.

Particularly preferable compound is at least one compound selected from the following group: 5-(3-cyano-4-n-propoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(4-isobutoxy-3-nitrophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-{4-[butyl(methyl)amino]-3-cyanophenyl}thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(3-cyano-4-piperidin-1-ylphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-[3-cyano-4-(cyclopentyloxy)phenyl]-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-{4-[(E)-cinnamyloxy]-3-cyanophenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(3-cyano-5-fluoro-4-isobutoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid.

Depending on the kinds of substituents, the compounds of the invention have tautomers and optical isomers, and the invention includes mixtures and isolated forms of these isomers.

Furthermore, a “pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug” of the compound represented by the general formula (I) is also included in the invention. The “pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug” is a compound which releases the compound (I) of the invention by generation of a certain group such as CO₂H, NH₂, and OH through solvolysis or under a physiological condition. Examples of the group which form the prodrug include those which are described in Prog. Med., 5, 2157-2161 (1985) and “Iyakuhin no Kaihatsu” (Hirokawa Publishing Co., 1990), Vol. 7, Bunshi Sekkei 163-198. Incidentally, among the compounds represented by the general formula (I), the compound wherein R² is —CO₂-lower alkyl is a compound which itself functions as a prodrug.

The salts of the compound (I) of the invention are pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and their specific examples include salts with inorganic bases including metals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and aluminum and organic bases such as methylamine, ethylamine, ethanolamine, lysine, and ornithine, and ammonium salts. In addition, depending on the kind of the substituent, acid addition salts may be formed in some cases and examples thereof include salts with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and phosphoric acid and organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid.

Furthermore, the compounds (I) of the invention and salts thereof include various hydrates, solvates, and polymorphic substances thereof.

(Production Method)

The compound of the invention can be produced by applying various known synthetic methods making use of the characteristics based on its basic skeleton or the kind of substituent. In that case, depending on the kind of functional group, it is sometimes effective from the production technical point of view to protect the functional group with an appropriate protective group or replace the group by a group, which can be easily converted into the functional group, at the starting material or intermediate stage. Such functional groups are, for example, an amino group, a hydroxy group, a carboxyl group, and the like and examples of protective groups thereof include protective groups described in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis (3rd Ed.)” written by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, which may be suitably used in response to the reaction conditions. In such a method, after the protective group is introduced and then a reaction is carried out, the desired compound can be obtained by appropriate removing the protecting group or converting the group into the desired group.

Moreover, as in the above protective group, a prodrug of the compound of the invention can be produced by introducing a specific group at the starting material or intermediate stage or carrying out a reaction using the obtained compound (I). The reaction.can be carried out by. applying a method such as usual esterification, amidation, or the like, which is known by those skilled in the art. First Production Method

wherein Q represents —B (OH)₂ or —B(OR¹¹)OR¹² and Hal represents halogen, where R¹¹ and R¹² are the same or different from each other and each represents lower alkyl or R¹¹ and R¹² are combined to represent lower alkylene; the same shall apply hereinafter.

The present production method is a method of producing the compound (I) of the invention by coupling the compound (1) and the compound (2).

The halogen represented by Hal is preferably chlorine, bromine, iodine, or the like. For the reaction, compound (1) and compound (2) are used in an equimolar amount or in an excessive amount for either of the compounds and the mixture is stirred in a solvent inert under the reaction conditions, in the presence of a base and a palladium catalyst, at room temperature to reflux, generally for 0.1 hours to.5 days. The solvent is not particularly limited but examples thereof include aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene; ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran (THF), 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and 1,2-diethoxyethane; halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and chloroform; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and butanol; N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), water, mixed solvents thereof, and the like. As the base, inorganic bases such as sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium ethoxide, and sodium methoxide are preferred. Moreover, bases such as potassium fluoride and cesium fluoride can be used but, in this case, it is preferable to carry out the reaction in an aprotic solvent. As the palladium catalyst, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene palladium chloride, and the like are preferred. Second Production Method

wherein L¹ represents a leaving group or OH; the same shall apply hereinafter.

The present production method is a method of producing the compound (I) of the invention by subjecting a compound represented by the general formula (3) to an alkylation reaction.

The leaving group represented by L¹ includes halogen, methanesulfonyloxy, p-toluenesulfonyloxy, trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy, or the like.

In the case that L¹ is a leaving group, the production method is carried out by reacting the compounds (3) with the alkylating agent (4) in a solvent inert to the reaction at room temperature to reflux for usually from 0.1 hour to 5 days using them in an equimolar amount or the alkylating agent in excess. The solvent is not particularly limited but examples thereof include aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, halogenated hydrocarbons, DMF, NMP, DMSO, mixed solvents thereof, and the like, as mentioned above. The reaction is sometimes preferably carried out in the presence of a base or a phase transfer catalyst. In this case, the base includes organic bases such as triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA), and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-7-undecene (DBU) and inorganic bases such as sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, and sodium hydride. Moreover, the phase transfer catalyst includes tetra-n-butylammonium chloride, tetra-n-butylammonium bromide, 18-crown-6, and the like.

Moreover, in the case that L¹ is OH and X is 0, the alkylation is carried out by using the compounds (3) with the alkylating agent (4) in an equimolar amount or the alkylating agent in excess and treating them with an azodicarbocylic acid derivative such as ethyl azodicarboxylate or 1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)dipiperidine and a phosphorus compound such as triphenylphosphine or tributylphosphine. Specific reaction conditions and reaction reagents are described in detail in “Organic Reactions 42, 335-656 (1992)” and “Journal of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan 53, 631-641 (1997)” and the reaction can be carried out according to the method or with reference to the method. Third Production Method

The present production method is a method of producing the compound (Ia) of the invention by subjecting the compound (1) and the compound (5) to a coupling reaction and subsequently tetrazole ring-cyclization of the product.

In the coupling reaction, the same conditions as in the above First Production Method can be applied. The tetrazole ring-cyclization is carried out by treating the compound (6) with sodium azide in a solvent inert to the reaction, such as an aromatic hydrocarbon, an ether, a halogenated hydrocarbon, DMF, or water or in a mixed solvent thereof in the presence or absence of an acid at 0° C. to 250° C. As the acid, a protonic acid such as hydrogen chloride and a salt thereof with an organic acid such as triethylamine, and a Lewis acid such as zinc chloride are preferred. Fourth Production Method

wherein L² represents a leaving group; the same shall apply hereinafter.

The present production method is a method of producing the compound (I) of the invention by subjecting the compound (7) and the compound (8) to an ipso substitution reaction.

The leaving group represented by L² includes halogen, methanesulfonyloxy, p-toluenesulfonyloxy, trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy, and the like. In the reaction, the same conditions as in the above Second Production Method can be applied.

Incidentally, in the reactions described in First Production Method, Second Production Method, and Fourth Production Method, in the case of the compounds having —CO₂H or tetrazolyl group as R¹, the group is preferably protected with a protective group. As the protective group and conditions for protection and deprotection, the methods described in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis (3rd Ed., 1999)” in the case of —CO₂H group and the methods described in “J. Med. Chem. 34, 2525-2547, (1991)” and “Chem. Pharm. Bull. 46, 973-981 (1998)” in the case of the tetrazolyl group can be referred to.

Other Production Methods

The compounds of the invention having various functional groups can be produced by methods obvious to those skilled in the art or known production methods, or by applying modified methods thereof. For example, desired compounds of the invention can be produced by further subjecting the compounds of the invention obtained by the above production methods to transforming reactions of substituents. Representative reactions are shown in the following.

(1) Amidation and Esterification

Among the compounds (I) of the invention, a compound having an amide group or a compound having an ester group can be produced by using a compound having a hydroxyl group or an amino group as a starting material and reacting it with a carboxylic acid or a reactive derivative thereof. The reaction can be carried out by referring to the methods described, for example, in “JIKKEN KAGAKU KOZA (Courses in Experimental Chemistry) (4th Ed.)” edited by The Chemical Society of Japan, vol. 22 (1992) (Maruzen) and the like.

(2) Oxidation

Among the compounds (I) of the invention, a compound having an S-oxide can be produced by an oxidation reaction of the sulfur atom. The reaction can be carried out by the methods described, for example, in “JIKKEN KAGAKU KOZA (Courses in Experimental Chemistry) (4th Ed.)” edited by The Chemical Society of Japan, vol. 23 (1991) (Maruzen) and the like.

(3) Alkylation

Among the compounds (I) of the invention, a compound having a lower alkoxy group or a lower alkylamino group can be produced by subjecting a compound having a hydroxyl group or an amino group to an alkylation reaction. The reaction can be carried out under the same conditions as in Second Production Method. Synthesis of Starting Materials

The starting materials (1 a) and (1 b) can be produced by the above reaction pathway.

In the above reaction pathway, to the alkylation reaction, the same conditions as in the above Second Production Method can be applied.

Moreover, in the ipso substitution reaction, the reaction may be carried out using the compound (10) and the compound (8) under the same conditions as in the alkylation in the case that L¹ is a leaving group described in the above Second Production Method.

The boration can be carried out according to the methods described in “Chem Rev. 95, 2547-2483 (1995)”, “J. Org. Chem. 67, 5394-5397 (2002)”, “J. Org. Chem. 65, 164-168 (2000)”, or “J. Org. Chem. 60, 7508-7510 (1995)”.

The hydrolysis can be carried out according to the methods described in “Chem Rev. 95, 2547-2483 (1995)” or “J. Org. Chem. 67, 5394-5397 (2002)”.

wherein L³ represents F or Cl, and Hal¹ represents Br or I; the same shall apply hereinafter.

The starting material (7a) can be produced by the above reaction pathway.

In the above reaction pathway, to the boration and hydrolysis, the same conditions as in the case of the compounds (1 a) and (1 b) of the above formulae can be applied. Moreover, to the coupling reaction, the same conditions as in the above First Production Method can be applied.

Among the starting materials (7), the compounds wherein L2 is a methanesulfonyloxy, p-toluenesulfonyloxy, or trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy group can be produced from the compound having a hydroxyl group using a usual manner for sulfonyl ester formation.

The compound (I) thus produced is isolated and purified as its free form or a salt thereof, the salt being produced by carrying out a usual salt formation treatment. The isolation and purification are carried out by employing usually used chemical techniques such as extraction, concentration, evaporation, crystallization, filtration, recrystallization and various types of chromatography.

Various isomers can be isolated in the usual way making use of the difference in physicochemical properties between corresponding isomers. For example, optical isomers can be separated from each other by a general optical resolution method such as fractional crystallization after conversion of a racemic compound into a diastereomer salt with an optically active organic acid (tartaric acid or the like) or chromatography using a chiral packing material. Also, an optical isomer can be produced starting from an appropriate optically active starting compound. In this connection, a mixture of diastereomers can be separated by fractional crystalization or chromatography.

(Test Method)

The advantages of the compound of the invention are confirmed by the following pharmacological tests.

1. Xanthine Oxidase-Inhibitory Activity

(1) Preparation of Test Compound

A test compound was dissolved in DMSO (manufactured by Nakarai) so as to be a concentration of 10 mM and then used after the concentration was adjusted to an aimed one at use.

(2) Measuring Method

The evaluation of xanthine oxidase-inhibitory activity of the compound of the invention was carried out using a method described in a document (Free Radic. Biol. Med. 6, 607-615, 1992) with partial modification. Namely, xanthine oxidase (derived from butter milk, manufactured by Sigma) was adjusted to 0.03 units/ml using a 50 mM phosphate buffer and was added to a 96-well plate in an amount of 50 gl/well. Each test compound diluted so as to be a final concentration was added thereto in an amount of 2 μl/well, followed by treatment at room temperature for 20 minutes. Pterin (manufactured by Sigma) was added thereto so as to be a final concentration of 5 μM, followed by reaction at room temperature for 10 minutes. Measurement was performed using a microplate reader saphire (manufactured by Tecan) under conditions of excitation at 345 nm and emission at 390 nm (pterin was oxidized by xanthine oxidase into isoxanthopterin, which emitted a light under the conditions).

The concentration of the test compound at which 50% inhibition was observed (IC₅₀ value) was calculated, the emissions of isoxanthopterin under conditions of the presence or absence of xanthine oxidase being 0% inhibition and 100% inhibition, respectively.

The compounds of the invention had good xanthine oxidase-inhibitory activity. The IC₅₀ values of representative compounds of Examples are shown in the following Table 1. TABLE 1 Ex- IC₅₀ Ex- IC₅₀ Ex- IC₅₀ Ex- IC₅₀ ample (nM) ample (nM) ample (nM) ample (nM) 1 3.2 3 6.9 4 2.2 5 9.3 8 4.1 9 2.9 19 2.8 22 5.1 23 13 24 2.5 27 1.8 30 2.0 33 5.9 34 6.3 47 3.7 54 1.5

On the other hand, when the comparative compound 1 (Compound No. 20 described in the above Non-Patent Document 1) was evaluated by the present test method, it did not show an inhibitory action at a concentration of 1 μM.

From the above test, it was confirmed that the compounds of the invention had a potent xanthine oxidase-inhibitory activity.

2. Serum Uric Acid-Lowering Action

A test compound was orally administered compulsorily to ICR mice using an oral sonde. After 2 hours, 6 hours, and, depending on the compound, further 24 hours from the administration, blood was collected from an abdominal aorta and then serum was separated in a usual manner. Serum uric acid was measured on an absorptiometer (SPECTRA MAX 190, manufactured by Molecular Device) by an uricase method using a uric acid-measuring kit (Uric Acid C-TestWako: Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and a uric acid-lowering ratio was determined according to the following equation. Uric acid-lowering ratio (%)=(Uric acid level of control animal−Uric acid level of test compound-administered animal)×100/Uric acid level of control animal

In the test, an excellent serum uric acid-lowering action of the compounds of the invention was confirmed. For example, the compound of Example 1 showed a uric acid-lowering ratio of 66% after 2 hours from the oral administration thereof in an amount of 1 mg/kg. On the other hand, the comparative compound 2 (Compound No. 75 of the above Patent Document 10) did not show any action under the same conditions. Moreover, the compound of the invention exhibited a highly long-acting action and, for example, a uric acid-lowering ratio of 50% or more after 24 hours from the administration remained in the compounds of Examples 1, 2, 8, 25, 33, 39, 47, and 54, while the action was remarkably lower in the comparative compound 3 (Example 77 of the above Patent Document 1).

From the above results, it was revealed that the compounds of the invention had a strong and long-acting serum uric acid-lowering action.

3. Acetic Acid-Induced Enteritis-suppressing Action

One ml of 3% acetic acid was administered into the rectum of a Wistar rat of 2 days of fasting. A group wherein 1 ml of physiological saline had been administered instead of acetic acid was separately prepared as a normal group. Thereafter, to the 3% acetic acid-administered group, a test compound or 0.5% methyl cellulose (control group) was orally administered once a day and dissection was performed on each administered group on fourth day. A part of the large intestine 2 to 7 cm from the anus side was cut out and incised. After feces were removed by means of tweezers, the part was washed and a score of morbid conditions was evaluated and tissue weight was measured. The score of morbid conditions and a tissue weight increase-suppressing ratio were calculated by the following methods. Score of morbid conditions: feces, general conditions, adhesion, perforation, cell death, ulcer, edema, and megacolon each was evaluated and point-rated with dividing into four stages.

-   Tissue weight increase-suppressing ratio (%)=100-((Tissue weight of     test compound-administered group−Tissue weight of normal     group)/(Tissue weight of control group−Tissue weight of normal     group)×100)

As a result, as compared with the normal group wherein physiological saline had been administered into the rectum, deterioration of the score of morbid conditions and remarkable erosion and resulting intestinal tissue weight increase were observed in the 3% acetic acid-administered group. On the other hand, when the test compound-administered group was compared with the control group, significant improvement in the score of morbid conditions and suppression of intestinal tissue weight increase were observed in the test compound-administered group in comparison with the control group.

For example, the compounds of Examples 1 and 40 suppressed 70% or more of the intestinal tissue weight increase when administered in an amount of 10 mg/kg.

From the above results, the effectiveness of the compound of the invention on ulcerative colitis was shown.

4. Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid-induced Enteritis-Inhibitory Action

The effectiveness of the compound of the invention on an enteritis model can be also evaluated by a model using trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) as an inducing agent instead of acetic acid (Cell. Mol. Biol, 38, 189-199, 1992). Thus, referring to the method described in the report, the enteritis-suppressing action of the compound of the invention was evaluated.

Namely, TNBS or physiological saline as a normal group was administered into the rectum of male Wistar rats of 200 to 250 g. Thereafter, a test compound or 0.5% methyl cellulose (control group) was orally administered once a day and dissection was performed on each administered group on 21st day. A part of the large intestine 2 to 7 cm from the anus side was cut out and incised. After feces were removed by means of tweezers, the part was washed and a score of morbid conditions was evaluated and tissue weight was measured. The score of morbid conditions and a tissue weight increase-suppressing ratio were calculated as in the evaluation method of the above acetic acid-induced enteritis-suppressing action.

As a result, as compared with the normal group wherein physiological saline had been administered into the rectum, deterioration of the score of morbid conditions and remarkable erosion and resulting intestinal tissue weight increase were observed in the TNBS-administered group. On the other hand, when the test compound-administered group was compared with the control group, significant improvement in the score of morbid conditions and suppression of intestinal tissue weight increase were observed in the test compound-administered group in comparison with the control group.

For example, the compound of Example 1 suppressed 70% or more of the intestinal tissue weight increase when administered in an amount of 3 mg/kg.

From the above results, the effectiveness of the compound of the invention on ulcerative colitis was shown.

As above, from the test results of 3 and 4, it was revealed that the compounds of the invention had a strong antiinflammatory action.

5. Pyrimidine Ssynthetic Pathway-Inhibitory Action

Allopurinol which is an existing hyperuricemia therapeutic drug is known to cause renal dysfunction as an undesirable action. As mentioned previously, since allopurinol has a nucleic acid-like structure, as one cause thereof, it is presumed that it inhibits pyrimidine synthetic pathway. In recent studies on xanthine oxidase inhibitors, there have been desired compounds which do not influence pyrimidine synthetic pathway. For example, it has been reported that the comparative compound 3 has reduced BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) concentration-increasing action, which is an index of renal dysfunction, as compared with allopurinol (Research Communications in Molecular Pathology and Pharmacology, 104(3), 293-305, (1999)). Thus, according to the method described in the document, the influence of the compounds of the invention on a BUN level was confirmed.

As a result, it was found that the influence of the compounds of the invention on the BUN level was small. For example, the compound of Examples 1 exhibited no inhibitory action even at an oral administration of 30 mg/kg.

From the above results, since the compounds of the invention do not inhibit the pyrimidine synthetic pathway, there was revealed an advantage that the compounds do not exhibit adverse effects based thereon.

6. AKR1C3 Inhibitory Action

AKR1C3 known as a molecule belonging to aldo-keto reductase is known as a multifunctional enzyme (Jikken Igaku 23, 90-97, 2005). There is expected the application of a compound inhibiting AKR1C3 to various morbid conditions including inflammatory diseases (Mol. Pharmacol 67, 60-68, 2005) (Current Pharmaceutical Design 10, 3505-3524, 2004) (J. Biol. Chem 273, 1855-1888, 1998). As a result of testing the presence of an AKRlC3 inhibitory activity on the compound of the invention according to the method described in Chemico-Biological Interactions 143-144, 503-513, 2003 (9,10-phenanthrenequinone was used as a substrate), it was found that the compound surprisingly has inhibitory activity against the enzyme.

For example, the compounds of Examples 2, 3, 24, and 27 showed IC₅₀ values of 1 to 3 WM.

From the above results, it was suggested that the compound of the invention was a compound having an inflammatory action independently of xanthine oxidase inhibition. Therefore, the compound of the invention is expected as an antiinflammatory drug having a high efficacy.

From the above tests, the following were confirmed: (1) the compound of the invention has a xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action and excellent uric acid-lowering action and antiinflammatory action based thereon; (2) the compound of the invention has little influence on the BUN level and hence can avoid adverse effects such as renal dysfunction based on the inhibition of pyrimidine metabolic pathway; and (3) the compound of the invention inhibits not only xanthine oxidase but also AKR1C3 and has an excellent profile as an antiinflammatory drug. Incidentally, the compound of the invention is superior to uric acid-excreting agents in view of the fact that the compound of the invention is also effective in hyperuricemia patients having decreased renal function.

The pharmaceutical composition containing the compound (I) of the invention or a salt thereof as an active ingredient may be prepared using a carrier, an excipient, and other additives generally used in formulation.

The administration may be in any form of oral administration by means of tablets, pills, capsules, granules, powders, or liquids or parenteral administration by means of injections such as intravenous injections or intramuscular injections, suppositories, subcutaneous preparations, transnasal preparations, or inhalations. The dose may be suitably determined, depending on individual cases in consideration of the symptom, the age and the sex of the patients of administration targets, but is, in general, from about 0.001 to 100 mg/kg per adult per day in the case of oral administration and this may be administered all at a time or may be divided into a few portions for administration in 2 to 4 times. In the case of intravenous administration, the dose is, in general, from about 0.0001 to 10 mg/kg per adult per time and administration was performed once a day or plurality of times per day. In the case of inhalation, the dose is, in general, from about 0.0001 to 1 mg/kg per adult per time and administration was performed once a day or plurality of times per day.

As the solid composition for oral administration in accordance with the invention, tablets, powders, granules, and the like are used. In such a solid composition, one or more active substances are mixed with at least one inactive excipient, for example, lactose, mannitol, glucose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, magnesium metasilicate aluminate, or the like. According to usual methods, the composition may contain inactive additives, for example, a lubricant such as magnesium stearate, a disintegrator such as sodium carboxymethylstarch, and a solubilizing agent. If necessary, the tablets or pills may be coated with sugar coating agents or gastrosoluble or enterosoluble coating agents.

The liquid composition for oral administration includes pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups, and elixirs, and the like and contains inactive solvents generally used, for example, purified water and ethanol. The composition may contain an auxiliary agent such as a solubilizer, a wetting agent, and a suspending agent, a sweetener, a flavoring agent, an aromatic agent, and a preservative in addition to the inactive solvents.

The injections for parenteral administration encompass aseptic, aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. The solvents for aqueous solutions include, for example, distilled water for injections and physiological saline. The non-aqueous solvents include, for example, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil, alcohols such as ethanol, polysorbate 80 (name in Pharmacopeia), and the like. Such a composition may further contain an isotonic agent, a preservative, a wetting agent, an emulsifier, a dispersant, a stabilizer, and a solubilizing agent. These may be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacteria-retaining filter, blending with germicides, or irradiation. These may be also prepared into aseptic solid compositions and the compositions may be used, after dissolution in aseptic water or aseptic solvents for injections prior to use.

The transmucomembranous preparations such as inhalations and transnasal preparations are used in the form of solid, liquid, or semi-solid, and may be produced in accordance with hitherto known methods. For example, an excipient such as lactose or starch and further a pH regulating.agent, an antiseptic, a surfactant, a lubricant, a stabilizer, and a thickening agent may be optionally added thereto. For the administration, an appropriate device for inhalation or blowing can be used. For example, using a known device such as a metered dose-inhaling device or a nebulizer, the compound may be administered solely or as a powder of formulated mixture, or as a solution or suspension in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A dry powder-inhaling device or the like may be a device for single use or a device for several uses, where a dry power or a capsule containing a power can be utilized. Alternatively, it may be in the form of a pressurized aerosol spray wherein an appropriate propellant, for example, a suitable gas such as chlorofluoroalkane, hydrofluoroalkane or carbon dioxide is employed.

In the production of suppositories, a low-melting wax, for example, a mixture of fatty acid glycerides or cocoa butter was melted, an active ingredient was added thereto, and the whole was homogeneously dispersed by stirring. Thereafter, the melt was poured into a suitable mold and solidified under cooling. The liquid preparations include solutions, suspensions, supported enemas, and emulsions, for example, water or aqueous propylene glycol solutions.

EXAMPLES

The following will explain the production methods of the compound (I) of the invention in further detail with reference to Examples. The invention is not limited to the invention of the compounds described in the following Examples. Also, production methods of starting materials are shown as Referential Examples.

Ex: Example No.; REx: Referential Example No.; No: Compound No.; Dat: physicochemical data {F: FAB-MS (M+H)⁺, FN: FAB-MS (M−H)⁻, ES: ESI-MS (M+H)⁺, ESN: ESI-MS (M−H)⁻, AP: API-ES-MS (M+H)⁺, EI: EI-MS (M)⁺, [a compound where (Na) is indicated after the above Mass spectroscopic measured value represents one observed as Na salt and a compound where (G-2W) is indicated thereafter represents one observed as glycerin adduct di-dehydrate]; NMR: δ ppm of characteristic peaks in ¹H-NMR in DMSO-d₆, NMRC: δ ppm of characteristic peaks in ¹H-NMR in CDCl₃; Str: structural formula; Syn: Production method (each numeral indicates Example No., at which the compound was similarly produced [with regard to a free compound, the procedure is performed with omitting a salt formation step]); Sal: salt (a compound not indicated represents a free compound); Me: methyl; Et ethyl; nPr: n-propyl; iPr: isopropyl; cPr: cyclopropyl; nBu: n-butyl; iBu: isobutyl; tBu: tert-butyl; cBu: cyclobutyl; iPen: isopentyl; cPen: cyclopentyl; cHex: cyclohexyl; Ph: phenyl; 3Py: 3-pyridyl, 4Py: 4-pyridyl; Ac: acetyl, and Bn: benzyl.

Referential Example 1

5-Bromo-2-hydroxybenzonitrile, isobutyl bromide, and potassium carbonate were heated at 80° C. in DMF in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide to obtain 5-bromo-2-isobutoxybenzonitrile. F: 254, 256.

Referential Example 2

After 2,2,-dimethyl-1-propanol and sodium hydride were stirred at 0° C. in DMF, 5-bromo-2-fluorobenzonitrile was added thereto and the whole was reacted at room temperature to obtain 5-bromo-2-(2,2-dimethylpropoxy)benzonitrile. NMRC: 3.67 (2H, s), 6.83 (1H, d), 7.64 (1H, d).

Referential Example 3

5-Bromo-2-fluorobenzonitrile and piperidine were heated at 80° C. in DMSO in the presence of cesium carbonate to obtain 5-bromo-2-piperidin-1-ylbenzonitrile. F: 265.

Referential Example 4

5-Bromo-2-isobutoxybenzonitrile and triisopropyl borate were dissolved in a mixed solvent of THF and toluene and an n-butyllithium-hexane solution was added dropwise to the solution at a temperature below −60° C. After the temperature was elevated to −20° C., 1 M hydrochloric acid was added and the whole was stirred at room temperature to obtain (3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)boronic acid. F: 220.

Referential Example 5

Methyl 5-[4-(benzyloxy)-3-cyanophenyl]thiophene-2-carboxylate and pentamethylbenzene were stirred at room temperature in trifluoroacetic acid to obtain methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate. F: 258.

Referential Example 6

5-Bromothiophene-2-carbonitrile, sodium azide, and triethylamine hydrochloride were heated at 100° C. in toluene to obtain 5-(5-bromo-2-tienyl)-1H-tetrazole. ES: 231, 233.

Referential Example 7

After thionyl chloride was added to methanol, 5-bromo-3-methylthiophene-2-carboxylic acid was added thereto and the resulting solution was heated and refluxed to obtain methyl 5-bromo-3-methylthiophene-2-carboxylate. EI: 234, 236.

Referential Example 8

Bromine was added to an acetic acid solution of methyl 3-ethoxythiophene-2-carboxylate, followed by stirring at room temperature. The product was separated by silica gel column chromatography to obtain methyl 5-bromo-3-ethoxythiophene-2-carboxylate (F: 265, 267) and methyl 4-bromo-3-ethoxythiophene-2-carboxylate (F: 265, 267).

Referential Example 9

Trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride was added to a pyridine solution of methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate and the whole was stirred at room temperature to obtain methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-{[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]oxy}phenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate. F: 392.

Referential Example 10

Cesium fluoride and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium were added to a 1,2-dimethoxyethane solution of methyl 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxylate and (3-eyano-4-fluorophenyl)boronic acid and the whole was reacted under heating and refluxing to obtain methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate. F: 262.

Referential Example 11

Methyl 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate was obtained in accordance with the method of Referential Example 5 using methyl 5-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate and pentamethylbenzene. F: 233.

Sodium hydride and acetic anhydride were added to a THF solution of methyl 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate and the whole was stirred at room temperature to obtain methyl 5-[4-(acetyloxy)phenyl]thiophene-2-carboxylate. ES: 277.

Aluminum chloride was added to a chlorobenzene solution of methyl 5-[4-(acetyloxy)phenyl]thiophene-2-carboxylate and the whole was stirred at 120° C. to obtain methyl 5-(3-acetyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate. F: 277.

Referential Example 12

Methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate and N-chlorosuccinimide were stirred at room temperature in acetonitrile to obtain methyl 4-chloro-5-(3-cyano-4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate. ESN: 292.

Referential Example 13

Sodium hydride was added to a DMF solution of 2,3-difluorobenzonitrile and 2-(methylsulfonyl)ethanol and the whole was stirred at room temperature to obtain 3-fluoro-2-hydroxybenzonitrile. FN: 136.

3-Fluoro-2-hydroxybenzonitrile and N-bromosuccinimide were stirred at room temperature in acetonitrile to obtain 5-bromo-3-fluoro-2-hydroxybenzonitrile. EI: 215, 217.

Referential Example 14

(4-Benzyloxy-3-cyanophenyl)boronic acid and methyl 4,5-dibromo-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylate were dissolved in a mixed solution of toluene and a 1 M aqueous sodium carbonate solution and the whole was heated at 110° C. for 2.5 days in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium to obtain methyl 4-bromo-5-(4-benzyloxy-3-cyanophenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylate. Methyl 4-bromo-5-(4-benzyloxy-3-cyanophenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylate and triethylamine were stirred at room temperature in 1,4-dioxane under a hydrogen atmosphere at normal pressure in the presence of palladium-carbon to obtain methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylate. FN: 276.

Referential Example 15

(3-Cyano-4-benzyloxy-5-fluorophenyl)boronic acid and methyl 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxylate were dissolved in a mixed solution of toluene and a 2 M aqueous sodium carbonate solution and the whole was heated and refluxed for 3 hours in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium to obtain methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-benzyloxy-5-fluorophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate. F: 368.

Methyl 5-[4-(benzyloxy)-3-cyano-5-fluorophenyl]thiophene-2-carboxylate was stirred at room temperature in methanol-THF (1:1) under a hydrogen atmosphere at normal pressure in the presence of palladium-carbon to obtain methyl 5-(3-cyano-5-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate. FN: 276.

Referential Examples 16 to 34

The compounds of Referential Examples 16 to 21 were produced in a similar manner to the method of Referential Example 1, the compounds of Referential Examples 22 to 23 were produced in a similar manner to the method of Referential Example 2, the compound of Referential Example 24 was produced in a similar manner to the method of Referential Example 3, and the compounds of Referential Examples 25 to 34 were produced in a similar manner to the method of Referential Example 4, using corresponding starting materials. The structures and physicochemical data of the compounds of Referential Examples 16 to 34 are shown in the following Table 2.

Example 1

(1) In 5 ml of DMF were dissolved 150 mg of methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate and 117 mg of n-propyl iodide, and the resulting solution was heated at 80° C. for 3 hours in the presence of 129 mg of potassium carbonate and 19 mg of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide. The reaction solution was cooled and then diluted with water, followed by extraction with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine and then dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was washed with a mixed solvent (hexane:ethyl acetate=10:1) to obtain 110 mg of methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-n-propoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate.

(2) Then, 70 mg of the compound was dissolved in a mixed solution of 2 ml of methanol and 2 ml of THF, and 0.28 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added thereto, followed by heating at 60° C. for 2 hours. After the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, the solution was diluted with diisopropyl ether and an aqueous layer was separated. The aqueous layer was neutralized with 1 M hydrochloric acid and then extracted with ethyl acetate. After the resulting organic layer was washed with water, the layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 57 mg of 5-(3-cyano-4-n-propoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid.

(3) Then, 149 mg of sodium methoxide was added to a methanol (15 ml) suspension of 660 mg of 5-(3-cyano-4-n-propoxyphenyl) thiophene-2-carboxylic acid at 0° C., followed by stirring. After the solution temperature was elevated to room temperature, the solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 750 mg of sodium 5-(3-cyano-4-n-propoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate.

Example 2

(1) In a mixed solution of toluene and a 1M aqueous sodium carbonate solution were dissolved 1.04 g of (3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)boronic acid and 1.05 g of methyl 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxylate, and the resulting solution was heated at 100° C. for 1 hour in the presence of 0.30 g of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium. The reaction solution was extracted with ethyl acetate and the resulting organic layer was washed with brine and then dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate:chloroform=35:15:50) to obtain 1.17 g of methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate.

(2) Then, 1.17 g of the compound was dissolved in a mixed solution of 20 ml of methanol and 50 ml of THF, and 6 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added thereto, followed by heating at 50° C. for 1 hour. After cooling to room temperature, the resulting solution was neutralized with 1 M hydrochloric acid and then extracted with ethyl acetate. After the resulting organic layer was washed with brine, the layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was recrystallized from a mixed solvent of ethanol and water to obtain 821 mg of 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid.

Example 3

(1) Under an argon atmosphere, 820 mg of 4-bromo-1-isobutoxy-2-nitrobenzene and 830 mg of bispinacolatodiboron were dissolved in toluene and the resulting solution was heated and refluxed for 15 hours in the presence of 60 mg of dichlorodi(triphenylphosphine)palladium, 50 mg of triphenylphosphine, and 350 mg of potassium acetate. After cooling to room temperature, 660 mg of methyl 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxylate, 150 mg of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, and 7.5 ml of a 2 M aqueous sodium carbonate solution were added to the solution, followed by heating at 100° C. for 6 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the solution was extracted with ethyl acetate and the resulting organic layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=90:10) to obtain 790 mg of methyl 5-(3-nitro-4-isobutoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate.

(2) Then, 570 mg of the compound was dissolved in a mixed solution of 10 ml of ethanol and 10 ml of THF, and 3 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added thereto, followed by heating at 60° C. for 18 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the resulting solution was diluted with water and ethyl acetate and an aqueous layer was separated. The aqueous layer was neutralized with 1 M hydrochloric acid and then extracted with ethyl acetate. The resulting organic layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 350 mg of 5-(3-nitro-4-isobutoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid.

Example 4

(1) Using (3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)boronic acid and methyl 4,5-dibromo-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylate, methyl 4-bromo-5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylate was obtained in accordance with the method of Example 2(1). To an ethanol (60 ml) suspension of 1.75 g of the compound was added 1.00 g of 10% palladium-carbon, followed by stirring at room temperature for 4 hours under a hydrogen atmosphere at normal pressure. After insoluble matter was removed by filtration, the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=10:1 to 5:1) to obtain 0.39 mg of methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylate.

(2) The compound was dissolved in 15 ml of THF, and 2.5 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added thereto, followed by heating at 60° C. for 5 hours. After cooling to room temperature, 2.5 ml of 1 M hydrochloric acid and water were added thereto, followed by extraction with ethyl acetate. The resulting organic layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting solid was recrystallized from ethyl acetate and hexane to obtain 252 mg of 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid.

(3) Then, 215 mg of sodium hydroxide was added to an ethanol (60 ml) solution of 1.81 g of 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid, followed by stirring at 80° C. overnight. After the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, the precipitate was collected by filtration to obtain 1.60 g of sodium 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylate.

Example 5

Under an argon atmosphere, 1.0 g of 4-bromo-1-isobutoxy-2-nitrobenzene, 1.0 g of bispinacolatodiboron, 1.2g of potassium acetate, and 0.1 g of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium were heated at 100° C. for 4 days in toluene. Then, 658 mg of 5-bromothiophene-2-carbonitrile, 0.1 g of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, 10 ml of 1,4-dioxane, and 12 ml of a 2 M aqueous sodium carbonate solution were added thereto, followed by heating at 100° C. for 4 hours under an argon atmosphere. After the reaction solution was diluted with water and ethyl acetate, the solution was filtrated through celite. The filtrate was extracted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with brine and then dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=90:10) to obtain 522 mg of 5-(4-isobutoxy-3-nitrophenyl)thiophene-2-carbonitrile. Then, 214 mg of the compound, 0.13 g of triethylamine hydrochloride, and 60 mg of sodium azide were heated at 100° C. for 14 hours in 20 ml of toluene. Additionally, 0.13 g of triethylamine hydrochloride and 60 mg of sodium azide were added thereto, followed by heating at 100° C. for 4 hours. The reaction solution was extracted with water and the aqueous layer was acidified with 1 M hydrochloric acid. The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with water, dried, and purified by silica gel column chromatography (chloroform:methanol:acetic acid=94.7:5:0.3) to obtain 67 mg of 5-[5-(4-isobutoxy-3-nitrophenyl)-2-thienyl]-1H-tetrazole.

Example 6

In a mixed solution of 10 ml of 1,4-dioxane and 5 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium carbonate solution were dissolved 0.31 g of (3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)boronic acid, 267 mg of 5-(5-bromo-2-thienyl)-1H-tetrazole, and 0.56 g of triphenylmethane chloride, and the solution was heated at 100° C. for 1.5 hours in the presence of 0.11 g of tetrakis-(triphenylphosphine)palladium. The reaction solution was diluted with water and ethyl acetate and then filtrated through celite. Conc. hydrochloric acid was added to the filtrate to make the solution pH=1, and the solution was stirred for 10 minutes. The solution was neutralized and extracted with a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and the resulting aqueous layer was acidified with 1 M hydrochloric acid. Extraction with ethyl acetate was conducted and the resulting organic layer was washed with brine, followed by drying and concentration under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (chloroform:THF:methanol:acetic acid=88.9:10:1:0.1) and then recrystallized from a mixed solvent (chloroform:THF:methanol:acetic acid=88.9:10:1:0.1) to obtain 52 mg of 2-isobutoxy-5-[5-(lH-tetrazol-5-yl)-2-thienyl]benzonitrile.

Example 7

(1) To a dioxane (1 ml) solution of 500 mg of methyl ,5-(3-cyano-4-{[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]oxy)phenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate was added 634 mg of azepane, followed by heating at 90° C. for 20 minutes. The reaction solution was concentrated and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=90:10 to 70:30) to obtain 157 mg of methyl 5-(4-azepan-1-yl-3-cyanophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate as a yellow solid.

(2) Then, 147 mg of the compound was dissolved in a mixed solution of 3 ml of methanol and 3 ml of THF, and 1 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added thereto, followed by heating at 60° C. for 11 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the resulting solution was neutralized with 1 M hydrochloric acid and then extracted with chloroform. After the resulting organic layer was washed with brine, the layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 10 ml of ethanol, and 0.48 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added thereto, followed by stirring at room temperature for 30 minutes. The precipitated crystals were filtrated and dried under reduced pressure to obtain 108 mg. of sodium 5-(4-azepan-1-yl-3-cyanophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxyate as a pale yellow solid.

Example 8

(1) In 4 ml of DMSO, 261 mg of methyl 5-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate, 0.24 ml of N-methylbutane-1-amine, and 651 mg of cesium carbonate were heated at 50° C. for 13 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction solution was diluted with water and then extracted with ethyl acetate. After the resulting organic layer was washed with brine, the layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=8:1) to obtain 186 mg of methyl 5-{4-[butyl(methyl)amino]-3-cyanophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate.

(2) Then, 163 mg of the compound was dissolved in a mixed solution of 4 ml of methanol and 4 ml of THF, and 0.65 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added thereto, followed by heating at 50° C. for 17 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the resulting solution was neutralized with 1 M hydrochloric acid and then extracted with chloroform. After the resulting organic layer was washed with brine, the layer was dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was recrystallized from a mixed solvent of ethanol and water to obtain 107 mg of 5-{4-[butyl(methyl)amino]-3-cyanophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid. Then, 102 mg of 5-{4-[butyl(methyl)amino]-3-cyanophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid was dissolved in 10 ml of ethanol, and then 0.33 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added thereto, followed by stirring at room temperature for 15 minutes. The reaction solution was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was suspended into 2-propanol. The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration to obtain 102 mg of sodium 5-{4-[butyl(methyl)amino]-3-cyanophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate as a pale yellow solid.

Example 9

Using [3-cyano-4-(isobutylthio)phenyl]boronic acid and methyl 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxylate, 5-[3-cyano-4-(isobutylthio)phenyl]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid was obtained in accordance with the method of Example 2. Then, 333 mg of the resulting 5-[3-cyano-4-(isobutylthio)phenyl]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid was suspended into 10 ml of ethanol, and 1.05 ml of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added to the suspension, followed by stirring at room temperature for 20 minutes. The reaction solution was concentrated under reduced pressure, the residue was suspended into 2-propanol, and the precipitate was collected by filtration to obtain 256 mg of sodium 5-[3-cyano-4-(isobutylthio)phenyl]thiophene-2-carboxylate.

The compounds of Examples 10 to 54 shown in the following Tables 4 to 7 were produced in a similar manner to the methods of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9, using corresponding starting materials, respectively.

The structures and physicochemical data of the compounds of Examples 1 to 54 are shown in Tables 3 to 7. In this connection, the numerals in parenthesis attached to Example No. (Ex) in the tables represent step numbers at which the compounds were produced. For example, the compound of Example 1(1) in Table 3 indicates that it is a compound obtained in the production step (1) in Example 1.

Moreover, Tables 8 and 9 show the structures of the other compounds of the invention. They can be easily synthesized by the above production methods, the methods described in Examples, and methods obvious to those skilled in the art or by the use of modified methods thereof. TABLE 2 REx Str Dat 16

EI: 287, 289 17

F: 252 18

F: 274, 276 19

F: 298 20

F: 284 21

EI: 215, 217 22

EI: 269, 271 23

EI: 279, 281 24

F: 251 25

ES: 254 26

FN: 232 27

ES: 231 28

ES: 217 29

FN: 261 30

F: 306 (G-2W) 31

F: 296 (G-2W) 32

F: 235 33

FN: 244 34

F: 328 (G-2W)

TABLE 3 Ex Str Dat 1 (1)

F: 302; NMRC: 3.91 (3H, s), 4.08 (2H, t), 7.00 (1H, d) 2 (1)

F: 316; NMRC: 3.87 (2H, d), 3.91 (3H, s), 6.99 (1H, d) 3 (1)

F: 336; NMRC: 3.91 (3H, s), 7.10 (1H, d), 7.25 (1H, d) 4 (1)

F: 334; NMRC: 3.88 (2H, d), 3.93 (3H, s), 6.98 (1H, s)

TABLE 4

Ex Syn R⁶—X R⁴ Sal Dat 1 1 nPrO— CN Na F: 310 (Na); NMR: 4.12 (2H, t), 7.16 (1H, d), 7.85 (1H, dd) 2 2 iBuO— CN FN: 300; NMR: 3.98 (2H, d), 7.31 (1H, d), 7.59 (1H, d) 3 3 iBuO— NO₂ FN: 320; NMR: 3.99 (2H, d), 7.43 (1H, d), 7.62 (1H, d) 7 7

CN Na FN: 325; NMR: 1.51-1.57 (2H, m), 3.62 (2H, dd), 7.00 (1H, d) 8 8 nBu—N (Me)— CN Na F: 337; NMR: 2.96 (3H, s), 7.23 (1H, d), 7.79 (1H, d) 9 9 iBu—S— CN Na F: 340 (Na); NMR: 3.02 (1H, d), 7.22 (1H, d), 7.85 (1H, dd) 10 1 EtO—(CH₂)₂—O— CN F: 318; NMR: 1.13 (3H, t), 7.92 (1H, dd), 8.07 (1H, d) 11 1 cBu—CH₂—O— CN F: 314; NMR: 4.17 (2H, d), 7.58 (1H, d), 8.15 (1H, d) 12 1 MeO— CN FN: 258; NMR: 3.97 (3H, s), 7.60 (1H, d), 8.18 (1H, d) 13 1 EtO— CN FN: 272; NMR: 1.39 (3H, t), 7.59 (1H, d),8.16 (1H, d) 14 1 iPrO— CN F: 288; NMR: 1.32 (6H, d), 7.59 (1H, d), 8.15 (1H, d) 15 1 iPenO— CN F: 316; NMR: 0.96 (6H, d), 7.59 (1H, d), 8.16 (1H, d) 16 1 nBuO— CN F: 302; NMR: 4.20 (2H, t), 7.60 (1H, d), 8.16 (1H, d) 17 1 cPenO— CN F: 314; NMR: 5.05-5.08 (1H, m), 7.59 (1H, d), 8.15 (1H, d) 18 1 cPenO— CN Na AP: 335 (Na); NMR: 1.50-2.05 (8H, m), 7.12-7.40 (3H, m), 7.78-8.03 (2H, m) 19 1 3Py—CH₂—O— CN F: 337; NMR: 5.40 (2H, d), 7.60 (1H, d), 8.20 (1H, d) 20 1 4Py-CH₂—O— CN ES: 337; NMR: 5.44 (2H, s), 7.61 (1H, d), 8.23 (1H, d) 21 1

CN F: 343; NMR: 5.48 (2H, s), 7.60 (1H, d), 8.18 (1H, d)

TABLE 5 22 1

CN F: 339; NMR: 6.00 (2H, t), 7.59 (1H, d), 8.17 (1H, d) 23 1 NC—(CH₂)₃—O— CN FN: 311; NMR: 4.27 (2H, t), 7.61 (1H, d), 8.19 (1H, d) 24 2 BnO— CN FN: 334; NMR: 5.36 (2H, s), 7.71 (1H, d), 8.19 (1H, d) 25 2 tBu—CH₂—O— CN F: 316; NMR: 3.85 (2H, s), 7.60 (1H, d), 8.16 (1H, d) 26 9 tBu—CH₂—O— CN F: 338 (Na); NMR: 1.04 (9H, s), 7.18 (1H, d), 7.85 (1H, dd) 27 2

CN F: 313; NMR: 3.15-3.23 (4H, m), 7.18 (1H, d), 7.57 (1H, d) 28 2

CN F: 299; NMR: 3.54-3.63 (4H, m), 6.84 (1H, d), 7.48 (1H, d) 29 3 cPr—CH₂—O— CN F: 300; NMR: 1.18-1.33 (1H, m), 7.59 (1H, d), 8.16 (1H, d) 30 7

CN Na FN: 325; NMR: 0.97 (3H, d), 2.74-2.85 (2H, m), 7.31 (1H, d) 31 8

CN Na F: 369 (Na); NMR: 7.21 (1H, d), 7.88-8.00 (3H, m), 8.24 (1H, d) 32 1 iBuO— CF₃ F: 345; NMR: 3.95 (2H, d), 7.33 (1H, d), 7.60 (1H, d) 33 1 cPenO— Ac FN: 329; NMR: 2.55 (3H, s), 7.24 (1H, d), 7.50 (1H, d) 34 9 PhO— CN Na FN: 320; NMR: 6.97 (1H, d), 7.49 (2H, t), 7.87 (1H, dd)

TABLE 6

Ex Syn R⁶—X Sal Dat 4 4 iBuO— Na F: 320; NMR: 1.10 (3H, d), 7.27 (1H, d), 7.31 (1H, s) 35 4 tBu—CH₂—O— Na F: 356 (Na); NMR: 3.83 (2H, s), 7.27 (1H, d), 7.29 (1H, s) 36 4 PhO— Na FN: 338; NMR: 6.96 (1H, d), 7.38 (1H, s), 7.49 (2H, t) 37 4 cHexO— Na FN: 344; NMR: 4.58-4.68 (1H, m), 7.30 (1H, s), 7.33 (1H, d) 38 1 nPrO— F: 306; NMR: 4.17 (2H, t), 7.34 (1H, d), 7.64 (1H, s) 39 1 cPenO— F: 332; NMR: 5.03-5.12 (1H, m), 7.34 (1H, d), 7.63 (1H, s) 40 1 cPenO— Na F: 332; NMR: 5.00-5.07 (1H, m), 7.28 (1H, d), 7.30 (1H, s) 41 1 cPr—CH₂—O— F: 318; NMR: 4.07 (2H, d), 7.32 (1H, d), 7.64 (1H, s) 42 1 EtO— F: 292; NMR: 4.26 (2H, g), 7.33 (1H, d), 7.64 (1H, s) 43 1 MeO— F: 278; NMR: 3.98 (3H, s), 7.34 (1H, d), 7.64 (1H, s) 44 1 iPenO— F: 334; NMR: 4.23 (2H, t), 7.36 (1H, d), 7.63 (1H, s) 45 1 cHex—CH₂—O— Na FN: 358; NMR: 3.98 (2H, d), 7.28 (1H, d), 7.31 (1H, s) 46 1 (Et)₂CHCH₂—O— Na FN: 346; NMR: 4.07 (2H, d), 7.30 (1H, s), 7.85 (1H, dd) 47 1

Na F: 380 (Na); NMR: 4.99 (2H, d), 7.65 (1H, s), 8.02 (1H, dd)

TABLE 7 Ex Syn Str Dat 5 5

FN: 344; NMR: 4.01 (1H, d), 7.45 (1H, d), 7.73 (1H, s) 6 6

F: 326; NMR: 3.99 (1H, d), 7.34 (1H, d), 7.70 (1H, s) 48 2

F: 398, 400; NMR: 4.01 (2H, d), 7.42 (1H, d), 8.06 (1H, d) 49 2

F: 346; NMR: 3.97 (2H, d), 4.25 (2H, q), 7.32 (1H, d) 50 3

F: 316; NMR: 2.47 (3H, s), 7.30 (1H, d), 7.48 (1H, s) 51 3

FN: 314; NMR: 2.27 (3H, s), 7.35 (1H, d), 7.61 (1H, s) 52 2

F: 332; NMR: 3.97 (3H, s), 7.61 (1H, d), 7.73 (1H, d) 53 1

FN: 346; NMR: 1.95-2.02 (2H, m), 5.06-5.12 (1H, m), 7.40 (1H, d) 54 1

FN: 330; NMR: 5.02-5.06 (1H, m), 7.17 (1H, d), 7.89 (1H, dd)

TABLE 8 No. Str 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

TABLE 9 No. Str 31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

Industrial Applicability

Since the compound of the invention has a potent xanthine oxidase-inhibitory action, the compound is useful as a therapeutic or preventive drug for hyperuricemia, gout, uric acid urolithiasis, renal dysfunction accompanied by hyperuricemia, inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), diabetic kidney diseases, diabetic retinopathy, organ damage at organ transplantation or ischemic reperfusion, tumor lysis syndrome, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disorder, particularly hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, and diabetic retinopathy. 

1. A derivative represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof:

wherein the symbols have the following meanings: R³: —CO₂H, —CO₂-lower alkyl, or a tetrazolyl group, R²: H, halogen, lower alkyl, or —O-lower alkyl, R³: H, lower alkyl, or halogen, R⁴: —CN, —NO₂, —Br, halogeno-lower alkyl, or —(CO)-lower alkyl, R⁵: H, lower alkyl, —O-lower alkyl, halogen, —NO₂, or —CN, X: —O—, —N(R⁷)—, or —S—, where groups represented by R⁴ and —X—R⁶ are linked to meta- or para-position to the thienyl group, R⁷: H or lower alkyl, R⁶: linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, linear or branched alkenyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, —Y— (cycloalkyl which may contain an oxygen atom), —Y-phenyl, or —Y-heteroaryl, where the linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, linear or branched alkenyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl which may contain an oxygen atom, phenyl, and heteroaryl may be substituted with a group selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, —CN, —O-lower alkyl, —S-lower alkyl, —NR⁹(R⁹), and —(CO)NR⁹(R⁹), Y: a bond, lower alkylene, or lower alkenylene, R⁸ and R⁹: the same or different from each other, H or lower alkyl, where, when X is a group represented by —N(R⁷)—, R⁷ and R⁶ may be combined together with the adjacent nitrogen atom to form a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle and the nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle may be substituted with an lower alkyl.
 2. The derivative according to claim 1 represented by the following general formula (I^(A)) or a salt thereof:

wherein the symbols represented by R¹ to R⁶ and X have the following meanings: R¹: —CO₂H or a tetrazolyl group, R² and R³: the same or different from each other, H, F, or Cl, R⁴: —CN, —NO₂, or —(CO)-lower alkyl, R⁵: H or halogen, X: —O—, —N(R⁷)—, or —S—, R⁷: H or lower alkyl R⁶: linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, linear or branched alkenyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, —Y-cycloalkyl, —Y-phenyl, or —Y-monocyclic heteroaryl, where the linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, linear or branched alkenyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl, phenyl, and monocyclic heteroaryl may be substituted with —CN, Y: a bond, lower alkylene, or lower alkenylene, where, when X is a group represented by —N(R⁷)—, R⁷ and R⁶ may be combined together with the adjacent nitrogen atom to form a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle and the nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle may be substituted with an lower alkyl.
 3. The derivative according to claim 2 or a salt thereof, wherein R¹ is —CO₂H.
 4. The derivative according to claim 3 or a salt thereof, wherein R⁴ is —CN.
 5. The derivative according to claim 4 or a salt thereof, wherein X is —O—.
 6. The derivative according to claim 4 or a salt thereof, wherein X is —N(R⁷)—.
 7. The derivative according to claim 5 or a salt thereof, wherein R⁶ is a linear or branched alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, or -lower alkylene-(cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms).
 8. The derivative according to claim 6 or a salt thereof, wherein R⁷ and R⁶ may be combined together with the adjacent nitrogen atom to form a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocycle which may be substituted with lower alkyl.
 9. The derivative according to claim 1 selected from the group consisting of 5-(3-cyano-4-n-propoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(4-isobutoxy-3-nitrophenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(4-[butyl(methyl)amino]-3-cyanophenyl}thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(3-cyano-4-piperidin-1-ylphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(3-cyano-4-isobutoxyphenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-[3-cyano-4-(cyclopentyloxy)phenyl]-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5- (4-[(E)-cinnamyloxy]-3-cyanophenyl)-3-fluorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid, 5-(3-cyano-5-fluoro-4-isobutoxyphenyl)thiophene-2-carboxylic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the derivative according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 11. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10, which is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor.
 12. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10, which is a preventive or therapeutic agent for hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, or diabetic retinopathy.
 13. Use of the derivative according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the production of a preventive or therapeutic agent for hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, or diabetic retinopathy.
 14. A preventive or therapeutic method of hyperuricemia, gout, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetic kidney diseases, or diabetic retinopathy, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of the derivative according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient. 